universal or general; also liberal, not bigoted.

Catholic Church. The rise of heresies induced the primitive Christian church to assume the appellation of catholic, to distinguish itself from all sects, who, though they had party names, sometimes sheltered themselves under the name of Christians.

This epithet is now appropriated by the Romish Church; but strictly, there is no Catholic church, there being no universal Christian communion.

Catholic King, a title which has long been hereditary to the king of Spain.